Method of and apparatus for piling fabric



Apri 16, i935., F. P. MacKr-:NZIE 3,9%937? METHOD OFVAND APPARATUS FORVPILING FABRIC Fuedueo. 12, 1933 :a sheets-sheet 1 April' 16, 1935. F. P. MacKENzlE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FILING FABRIC Filed Dec. 12, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 za'e |NvENToR fn/fZffac//en L/ ATTORNEY WITNESSES Patented Apr. 16, 1935 Y UNITED 4STATES METHOD oF AND APPARATUS Fon rmiNG FABRIC Frank P. Mackenzie, Bayonne, N. J.; Florence M.

Webb, administratrix of said Frank P. Mackenzie, deceased, assigner to Florence M. Webb,

iBayonne, N. J

Application December 12, 1933, Serial No. 702,058

1o claims.

This invention relates to a method of and-apparatus for piling and laying fabric `andthe like, and with respect to its more specific features relates to an improved method of and apparatus for superimposing layers of cloth one on top of the other.

It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus which will enable the operator to superimpose several layers of fabric one on top of the other without distorting orstretching the fabric in any way.

A further object is the provision of a stationary cloth-piling and laying apparatus which will enable tailors and cutters to superimpose several layers of fabric and cut out a pattern from all of the layers at the Sametime :without the usual difference in size and shape resulting from the distortion and stretching of some of the layers of fabric. K

Another object is the provision` of an improved method of piling cloth which will be simple and economical to carry out and which will eliminate the difficulties, such as the stretching and distortion of the fabric, heretofore encountered in piling cloth.

.Among other objects is the provision of an improved cloth-piling apparatus, which will be of inexpensive constructiomwhich will be Aeconomically operated over long periods of time with freethe unskilled to superimpose layers of fabric without distortion.

Heretofore it has been the practiceto pile cloth by iirst placing a layer of fabric upon aflat surface, laying another layer of cloth directly upon the first layer, and then aligning the two layers.

Because of the frictional resistance between the two layers, the uppermost layer Would be slightly stretched in superimposing it upon the first; also,

imposed and aligned. This may be accomplished n,

dom from repair, and which will enable even (Cl. 271-73) l until it is superimposed upon the first layer, then laying a second layer 'of fabric upon the frictionless material, aligning it with the first layer and permitting it to assume its normal shape and length, and then withdrawing the layer ofA frictionless material.

For a full understanding of the present invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a sectional elevation taken on the line I-l of Fig. 2, and showing an apparatus embodying features ofthe present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the cloth-piling apparatusv showing the substantially frictionless material in advanced positionvso as to cover the clothreceiving surface of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a plan View showing the substantially frictionless material in retracted position so as to expose the cloth-receiving surface ofthe apparatus; n I

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view showing mechanism lthat may be used in shifting vthe substantially Africtionless material; .f

Fig. 5 is a detail view in elevation showing' the l mechanism for shifting the substantially.Y frictionless material;

Fig. 6 is an elevation showing in detail'the mechanism forV automatically adjusting the height'of the fabricreceiving surface;

Figfl is a detail View of the switch mechanism which actuates the apparatus for adjusting! the height of the cloth-receiving surface, and

Figure 8kis' a detail view showing a slightly modified form of mechanism for shifting the substantially frictionless material.

Referring now more particularly tothe drawings, the numeral I0 indicates generally a table upon which the present apparatus'may be mounted. A board ll is preferably placed upon the table to form a cloth-receiving' surface upon which the layers of fabric, indicated bythe numeral I2, `rnay be piled. It is to be understood,`of course, that the fabric may be piled directly uponthe table itself.- An aligning edge or straight edge is preferably formed on the table in order to aid i in aligning'the layers of fabric. Thealignin'g edge illustrated in the accompanying drawings consists of the end. I4 of a supporting member in the form of a board l5 suitably fastened to the side of the table. Disposed adjacent the table,.

and mounted so that it may be shifted back and forth across the top surface thereof, is a member having a broad, smooth, substantially frictionless upper surface, such as a sheet of oilcloth,

y indicated in the drawings by the numeral 21. g The oil cloth is supported on and carried by a plurality of reciprocating arms, such as the three lazy-tongs i3, supported adjacent the side of the table opposite aligning edge lll. Each pair of lazy-tongs is pivotally connected to two operating handles l'i and i3 by means of pins i9 and 23. It will be seen that by alternatel-ypivoting `the handle members -i'n opposite directions, the lazy-*tongs may be alternately extended and contracted longitudinally. The outer or free ends of each of the lazy-tongs are pivotally ,secured `,to Va kconnecting or supporting strip 2i made outfofjsuitable rigid material, such as steel. The strip 2i extends laterally beyond the lazy-tongs 'and-at each end grooved rollers and '23 are ,-jcurnaled thereto. The grooves in therollers'cooperate or ride upon tracks 24 and 23 formed of metal strips suitably secured tothe surfaceio'fzthetable. The rollers 22 and 23 guide the shifting oi the lazy-tongs and the supporting strip 2l across th'e fsurace `'of the table ras `the lazy-tongs are fal- .ternatcly-efxtendcd Aand contracted. The rollers 'also serveas'spacersand, therefore, :should be or" 1a-sunicientzcircumference to hold the lazy-tongs, the strip i2! and the .oilcloth not only clear of the surface of the table, but also clear-of the layers of .fabric :that are-piled` upon Ythe board H. One lend .of the oilcloth12 lis ysecured tothe cross farm-ill, by suitable fasteners, such as rivets 2G., `'The oilclothisexte'nded horizontally over the lazy-tongs andisthence fedoverrthe ,guide roller Y suitably journaled, 'atweither end, in plates 99 secured to the endsof the table. At its opposite end, the oilclothis secured 'so as to always be held taut regardless of 'the'iposition'oi lazy-tongs IE. This may be accomplished either by means of another set'fof lazy tongs 98,'orvby means of a spring roller lM5. Thelazy-tongs are similar to lazy-tongs LE. At their lower 4ends they are connected by means of a cross strip to which the end ofthe AKoilclothis secured. Each pair -o lazy-tongs 93 iisfccntrolled by means of :apair of cperating'handles 55 and 53. The operation-of lazy-tongs v98 is synchronized `with vthe operation of tongs i6, so Athat Awhenlazy-tongs i6 are extended, tongs 98 are contracted, and when lazy-tongs-it` are contr-acted, lazy; tongs y98 are extended. The `spring -roller -43 disclosed in Fig. `8 may be employed instead of theflazy tongs 93. A spiral springdisposed in theroller'tends to normally rotateithe lroller in a clockwise direction. 'The oilclothiis wound'aroundthe roller and its'eud is suitablysecured thereto by means of rivets or -otherffastener-s. When the tongs it arefexte'nded so as to shift the oilcloth across the surface of the 'Itable, the oilclothfunwinds from the Aroller against the tension ofv the spring. When the .tongs Hiarefcontractedshifting the oilcloth back -facross Vthe-table so to expose its upper surface, the .slack ofthe loilcloth is :immediately utaken up 'bythe-roller fif. The springoffthe roller inustbe suicientlystrong to-'hold the oilcloth quite taut. l This is particularly Iimportant iwhen the arms have'beentextended soas to shift' the oilcloth over nthentable. llt-will be seen'that in this .position `Athefspringwill be "under -itsfgreatest tension due to the-factthatdtl has=been wound up by-the une `rolling-of the oilcloth. The oilcloth will accordiingly be held most lrigid when `it Lis fully yexft'ended.

The mechanism for Yoperating the lazy-tongs ",is:asifollows: 'rwhe'ellZS iskeyed to the end of wa s'haftl`2'9. This-i-shait has keyed to itthree \.w`orfms, designated by the numeral 135i. Each-of lthese worms-cooperates witha `worm gear V113i keyed to a shaft 32. Each shaft 32 is suitably journaled in a metal supporting block 33, which is mounted upon the table IEE. Keyed to the other end of the shaft 32, is a bevel gear 34. Bevel gear 34 operates a bevel pinion 35, which is likewise journaled in the member 33, and the bevel pinion 35, in turn, operates another bevel gear 33, also journaled in the block :33. It will thus be seen that rotation of the wheel 23 will ycause rotation of the shaft 29 which, in turn,

will rotate the worms 33, worm gears 3|, shaft l'32, and bevel gear 34. The bevel gear 33, which faces the bevel gear 34, will be caused to rotate inthe opposite direction to the gear 34, by means of the pinion 35. An axially extending lug 3l' is formed upon the face of the bevel gear 34 and the operating handle I'i is pivoted thereto. A similar axiallyprojecting lug 38 is formed upon the bevel gear 35 andthe operating handle I3 is similarlypivoted thereto. The handle members vl and i8 are formed with slots 33 and 6D, `respectively. Fixed pins 4l and 42 ride in these slotsandact as guides and pivots for the reciprocating motion of the handle members. v.Pin 4I Vwhich cooperates with handle il projects upwardly and is xedly secured to the member 33.

Pin-42 `which cooperates with handle I8 projects downwardly and is likewise fixed to the mem- .,berf33.

Rotation oi the opposed oppositely-rotating gears k34 and 36 in the direction of the arrows j-in Fig. 4, will cause the lazy-tongs to be retracted when the'vlugs 3l and 33 reach the point E3 in their paths of rotationfas illustrated in dotted Alines `in that figure. Continued rotation of the two bevel .gears in the direction ci the arrows, i. e., '34 in a clockwise direction and 3S in .a counterclockwise direction, will then cause the lazy-tongs to be gradually extended or ad- Vanced -until they -reach the position shown in full "lines in 4 when they will be completely Vextended, "When the lazy-tongs are contracted laterally they will be extended longitudinally and, likewise, when they have been extended laterally they will be contracted longitudinally.

Itwill-be seen that the position of the lazy-tongs is .determined bythe sliding and pivoting of the operating handles ll and 18 around the pins M When the "oil'cloth has been shifted so as to extend across the surface of the table and is then retracted, the slack Vis taken up either by "the roller "45 or lazy-tongs 93, according to the construction employed. The operation of the roller '4'5 has been fully explained. There are preferably the same number of lazy-tongs 98 as `-there are o tongs I6 and their operation is similarto that of lazy tongs I6.

-Worm gears 41, driven by the worms 39, are 'keyed to shafts 48 suitably journaled in vertical "projections 49 'formed on the members 33. Keyed to the opposite end of each shaft 1223, is a bevel gear 53, which, by means of a bevel pinion "Eljcauses/another bevel gear 52 suitably journaledin the member 49, to rotate in the opposite direction. Gears't and 52 are similar to the gears 3d land 35, previously described. They are lforiried"withsimilar axially-extending lugs 33 and it, having pivotal connection with operating handles 55 and '36, Awhich control the operation of the` lazy-tongs 98. The handles or levers 55 and 5B are provided with slots in which fixed pins i!! and HH ride.' The operation of this mechanism isl the same as that which operates each of the lazy-tongs i6. The gears B and 52 and, accordingly, the lugs 53 and 54 rotate in opposite directions causing the alternate extension and contraction of the lazy tongs 98. However, the lazy-tongs 98 work oppositely to lazytongs H5. When the lazy-tongs Hi are extended, lazy-tongs 9B are contracted, and when lazytongs 98 are extended, lazy-tongs I6 are contracted. It will be seen that this action will cause the alternate shifting of the oilcloth back and forth across the surface of the table.

The wheel 28 may be connected bymeans of a belt to suitable driving mechanism, such as an electric motor, or to a foot-operated pedal, or, if desired, it may be manually revolved by the operator. Rotation of the wheel 28 causes rotation of shaft 29, worms 3B, worm gears 3|, shafts 32, and gears 3d and 3G. This causes the lazytongs It to alternately .extend and contract, thereby causing the shifting of the oilcloth back and forth across the surface of the table. The oilcloth is held taut `and its slack is taken up either by means of the roller or the lazy-tongs 98 which reciprocate oppositely to lazy-tongs i6. The lazy-tongs i6 and the oilcloth 21 should be of sufcient length to be extendable substantial ly across the table. The number of lazy-tongs employed and the width of the oilcloth employed may be varied in accordance with the length of the strips of fabric to be piled upon the table.

On the opposite side of Athe table from the mounting of the lazy-tongs, suitable means for clamping the piled layers of fabric in position are provided. The clamping members preferably consist of weights 57, which normally rest on the surface of the table or on the surface of the clothreceiving board ll. The clamping weights 51 are xedly secured to a shaft 53 by means of arms 59.

The shaft 5l' is mounted for vertical shift-movement. Adjacent each end of the shaft 58, downwardly-projecting arms 6E) are formed. These arms ride in guideways or slots formed in the supporting board l5. The weights may be manually raised by liftingl the shaft 53. They are normally held in clamping position due to gravitational pull. Automatic means are provided whereby the clamping weights are elevated when the lazy-tongs l5 and the oilcloth 2'! have been shifted across the table towards the clamping weights. This mechanism comprises a projection or follower 6l, secured to each of the arms 5B.' The followers are operated by means of cams t2 mounted adjacent either end of a shaft 63. When the dwell portions of cams t2 engage the followers 5l, thefollowers and, consequently, the arms all, shaft 58 and clamping weights 5l are raised upwardly. Also mounted on the shaft 63, is a bevel gear Gil, which is driven by another bevel gear keyed to a shaft 65. At the opposite end of the shaft 66 is mounted a sprocket wheel 5l', connected by means of chains 68 to another sprocket wheel 69 secured to the shaft d8. By

means of the mechanism just described, rotation of the wheel 2t and, consequently, the shaft 29 arm Bil, shaft 58, and clamping Weights 51. The gearing yand driving mechanism is such that the cams 52 will make asingle revolution for every revolution of the bevel gears Se and 3S. The cams areso positioned that when the lazy-tongs l@ arebeing projected outwardly so as to shift the oilclcth across the surface of the table towards the clamping weights 5l, the cams will raise the followers 6l. As soon as the lazy-tongs begin to shift the oilcloth away from the clamping weights, the earns will release thefollowers 6|, thereby permitting the clamping weights to drop downwardly.

When several layers of fabric have been piled upon the table, it sometimes becomes incon venient for the operator to work because the plane of operation has been raised due to the thickness of thepile of fabric. In order to overcome this difficulty, mechanism is herein provided whereby the table maybe automatically lowered after a predetermined number of layers of fabric have been piled upon the table. To this end, a gear l keyed to the shaft t3, cooperates with a gear 'H keyed to a shaft l2. Fixed to theshaft, at its central portion, is a cam i3. A. slide M, riding in a guideway cr track formed in the board l5, is formed with a follower or projection l5, which cooperates with the cam '53. In order to normally urge the slide 'M upwardly against the pull of gravity, a counterweight 'l5 is secured onlthe lever 7l. The lever il is p-ivoted at 'i8 to the board l5, and its op-' posite end engages the under surface of a projection 79 formed on the slidev 'M to exert a lifting pressure on it. Fastened to the upper end of the slide "i4, is a contact arm 85, which projects upwardly and presses against the face of a slide or arm 3l, whichis secured to and projects downwardlyfrom the shaft 5S. The arm 8l is formed with a contact point 82, which the contactl arm 3e engages when the member 8i and the slide 'Mare spacedI a sufficient ldistance apart. The contact arm 8E) normally engages the members 8i at a point above the contact S2. The cam 'I3 makes a single revolution for each revolution of the cams G2. It is 'preferably positioned so thatv its dwellportion engages its follower shortly after .the dwell portions of the cams 62 engage their followers, as illustrated in Fig. l. Under this arrangement, when the dwell portions of the cams 62 engage the followers Gi, raising the shaft 58 I and the arm 8l upwardly, the rest portion of the cam i3 cooperates with the follower l5, thereby permitting the counterweight 'i5 tourge the slide le upwardly. This will permit the slide 'M and the arm Sil to be spaced so close togetherl that thecontact'arm 80 will be well above the contact 3.2. When the cams-continue to rotate and the cams/62 release their followers Si, the arm 8l drops downwardlyto its lowermost position. The dwell portion of the cam i3 `then contacts its follower 'l5 and urges the slide 1,4 downwardly. The slide 'M and the arm `8l will, therefore, still be in approximately the same position relative to .each other and the Contact arm 8G will not engage the point @2. If, however, several layers of fabric have been placed under the clamping weights 5l, it will be seen that the weights 57, the connecting arm 59 and, consequently, the arm 8 i, will be held in a slightly'higher plane after the followers 5l have been released by the earns 62. When the dwellv portion of the cam 'i3 then engages its follower 75, forcing the slide li! downwardly, the contact arm 8G will' then engage the Contact point 8E, because the arm 8| and the slide 14 are ,spaced a greaterdistance apart clue to the layers of fabric interposed beneath the clamping weights 5l. By adjusting the position of the contact arm till, it will be seen that its time of operation can be controlled. If the arm Bil is increased in length, a greater number of layers of fabric can be interposed beneath the clamping weights 5l' before the contact is closed Likewise, if the length of the contact arm is decreased, a fewer number of layers of fabric causes the contact to be closed. The contact point 82 is connected, by means of a wire 83, to one terminal of a suitable source of electric current, such as a battery (not shown). The contact arm Sil is connected, by means of a wire to a timer' encased in the box E5, which causes the operation of a motor 86. Another wire lill leads directly from the other terminal of the battery to the timer. Closing of the contact between the arm lill and the contact point S, brings into operation the timing device, which causes the motor to operate for a fixed predetermined period regardless of the length of time during which the contact is closed. The motor 86 is connected, by means of suitable gearing, also enclosed in the box 85, to a shaft 83, which has a pair of worms 33 keyed thereto. The worms cooperate 'ii/'ith and cause the operation of worm gears et, which are keyed to vertical shafts 9i. Each shaft Si is suitably journaled in a supporting bracket and is formed at its upper portion 93 with screw threads. This portion extends into an internally-threaded sleeve Sil. Rotation of the shaft 9! from right to left in Fig. l, will cause the sleeve to rise upwardly. Rotation of the shaft in the opposite direction will cause the sleeve to drop downwardly. of the sleeves @Il is secured to plates Q5, which are suitably fastened to the under side of the table. It will be seen that the brace 92, shaft Si, and sleeve 94, serve as adjustable supporting legs for the table. In addition to these legs, additional legs or supports 95 are provided to add additional stability to the table. The legs 95 are hollow so as to permit shafts 9'! secured to the under face of the table, to telescope into them. By means of this mechanism it'will be seen that when Contact arm 88 engages contact point 82, the timing mechanism disposed in box 85 is energized, causing the motor S6 to operate for a xed period. The motor causes shaft B8, worms 89 and shaft 91 to rotate, thereby lowering the table. The amount that the table is automaticallyv lowered may be regulated by adjusting the timing mechanism. In addition to the automatic means for controlling and regulating the height of the table, a suitable hand-operated switch mechanism (not shown) for controlling the motor may be provided, whereby the operator may at any time raise or lower the table as he may desire.

The operation of the apparatus above described is as follows: The board i i is placed upon the table le adjacent the aligning edge M, and with its one edge under the clamping weights 5l. The lazy-tongs it? and, consequently, the layer of substantially frictionless material El, are completely retracted by means of the wheel 28 so as to completely expose the surface of the board l l. A layer of fabric is placed upon the board with its one side edge flush with the aligning edge and beneath the clamping weights 5l. The fabric is preferably placed so that its side edges are parallel to the aligning edge and so that its ends extend towards the ends of the table. The wheel 28 is then rotated so as to project the lazy-tongs I6 outwardly and thereby shift the layer of oilcloth 2l across the table thereby covering the first layer of fabric. Due to the rollers 22 and 23 and the tracks 24 and 25, the lazy-tongs and substantially frictionless material will be spaced above the board and above the layer of fabric. As the arms are projected outwardly the clamping weights automatically rise up. When the oilcloth is completely extended by means of the lazy-tongs, another layer of fabric is placed on top of the oilcloth. It is aligned with the first layer of fabric and allowed to assume its normal shape. Because f the slippery or substantially anti-friction surface of the oilcloth, there will be no tension or pull upon the layer of fabric, and it will readily assume its normal shape. The wheel is again turned. This further turning of the wheel 2B will cause the contracting of the lazy-tongs I6, which, in turn, will cause the layer of frictionless material to be shifted back across the table so as to completely expose the cloth-receiving board il. As soon as the lazy-tongs begin to contract, the clamping weights 5l will drop downwardly and grip both layers of fabric adjacent one edge. As the layer of substantially frictionless material withdrawl-strom beneath the uppermost layer of fabric, it will not distort or stretch the fabric due to the almost total absence of friction. lt will, however, aid in straightening the fabric out and causing the fabric to assume its normal shape. When the oil cloth has been shifted to one side so as to completely expose the board H the fabric thereon, it will be found that the second layer of fabric has been deposited on the first layer in perfect alignment and also without being stretched or distorted. This operation may be repeated to successively deposit additional layers of fabric upon the pile until a pile having the desired number of layers has been formed. Thus it will be seen that by the above-described apparatus and method piles of fabric having many layers may be easily and speedily formed without in any way stretching or distorting the fabric.

'It is to be understood, of course, that many modifications may be made in the illustrated and described embodiment of the invention, as, for instance, other materials than oilcloth having a slippery or substantially frictionless surface, such as highly glossed paper, may be employed, and other means for shifting the oilcloth may be employed.

What is claimed is:

l. A fabric piling apparatus comprising, in combination, a fabric-receiving surface, an aligning edge formed adjacent one side of said surface, a shiftable member having a substantially frictionless surface mounted on the outer side of said surface, and means for advancing said meinber across said surface towards said aligning edge and for retracting said member across said surface away from said aligning edge.

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a flat surface, a layer of slippery surfaced material, a plurality of arms for supporting and shifting said layer of material across said flat surface, and guide means for guiding said shifting of the layer of material across the flat surface.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a table, a plurality of shiftable arms mounted along one edge of said table, a member having a broad, substantially frictionless upper surface secured to and carried by said arms, and means for shifting said arms back and forth across said table.

Ll. An apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a table, lazy tongs mounted adjacent one edge of said table. a sheet of oilcloth secured to the free end of said tongs, and means for extending and contracting said tongs to cause said oilcloth to shift across the surface of said tabie.

5. An apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a table, lazy tongs mounted adjacent one edge of said table, a sheet of oilcloth secured to the free end of said tongs, and means' for extending and contracting said tongs to causesaid oilcloth to shift across the surface of said table, said means comprising a pair of opposed oppositely-rotating members, each having connection with one handle of said lazy tongs.

6. An apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a table, a member having a substantially frictionless upper surface shiftable back and forth across the surface of said table, clamping means formed adjacent one edge of said table, and means cooperable to cause said clamping means to open as said member ap proaches the clamping means and to cause said clamping means to close as said member shifts away from said clamping means.

7. An apparatus to be used in piling layers of fabric one on top ofthe other comprising, in combination, a table for receiving the layers of fabric, clamping means disposed adjacent one edge of the table for holding the layers of fabric in position, a sheet of oilcloth mounted adjacent the surface of said table, means for shifting said oilclotli across the surface of said table towards and away from said clamping means, means responsive to said last-named means for opening said clamping means as the oilcloth is shifted towards the clamping means, and for closing said clamping means as the oilcloth is shifted away from it, means including a switch operable by said clampric, and'withdrawing the layer of slippery surfaced material. '9. The method of piling layers of fabric one on top of the other comprising laying a layer of fabric upon a iiat surface, placing a sheet of oilcloth over the layer of fabric, laying another layer of fabric upon the sheet of oilcloth, aligning the second layer of fabric with the first layer of fabric, gripping the layers of fabric adjacent one edge, and withdrawing the sheet of oilcloth.

10. An apparatus to be used in piling layers of fabric one on top of the other comprising, ink

combination, a fabric receiving surface, clamping means disposed adjacent one edge of the surface, for holding the layers of fabric in position,

a shiftable member having a substantially frictionless surfaceV mounted adjacent said fabric receiving surface and shiftable towards and away from said clamping means, means controlled by said last-named member for causing said clamping means to open as said member is shifted towards said clamping means and to close as said member is shifted away from said clamping lmeans, and means operated by said clamping means for lowering said surface when the layers of fabric reach a predetermined height.

FRANK P. MACKENZIE. 

